Atlas of Science Literacy

Book excerpt: An oversized book with ambitious goals: That's the Atlas of Science Literacy. Asking -- then answering -- such vital questions as: -- What should students learn? -- When should they learn it -- and in what order? -- How does each strand of knowledge connect to other vital threads? This new educational tool from AAAS's Project 2061 graphically depicts connections among the learning goals established in Benchmarks for Science Literacy and Science for All Americans. The Atlas is a collection of 50 linked maps that show exactly how students from kindergarten through 12th grade can expand their understanding and skills toward specific science-literacy goals. But the maps don't just show the sequence of Benchmark ideas that lead to a goal. They also show the connections across different areas of mathematics, technology, and (of course) science -- including gravity, evolution and natural selection, the structure of matter, and the flow of matter and energy in ecosystems. This groundbreaking book is every school's road map to helping children learn science systematically. Using the Atlas of Science Literacy as your guide, trace the prerequisites for learning in each grade, make the connections to support science content, and show the way to the next steps to learning for your students.